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It seems that the futurologists of the 1950s were right: the future will be in 3D. At least that’s if the world’s biggest television manufacturers have calculated correctly. Each of them was out in force at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to demonstrate what they claim is the latest thing in TV technology.
Armed with dark glasses, remote controls and a copy of Monsters vs Aliens, the world’s top television executives showed tens of thousands of journalists and electronics executives how 3D TV worked.
Samsung had the boldest plan, and will commit a third of all its new television models this year to the technology, according to Tim Baxter, its president of television products.
‘‘People love watching 3D films in cinemas,” Baxter told The Sunday Business Post.
‘‘Hollywood has embraced it, and you’ve seen record box office sales based on it. Consumers will now expect the same 3D experience in their home.”
But is 3Dtelevision simply a gimmick? ‘‘Not at all,” said Baxter. ‘‘People want to go beyond a passive experience to an immersive experience, and 3D gives them that.” But will people be prepared to wear the necessary goggles at home every time they wish to watch a movie?
And what about people who already wear glasses?
‘‘The 3D glasses fit right over a normal pair of eye glasses,” said Baxter. While this is true, they are not a snug fit, as The Sunday Business Post discovered.
Samsung is going beyond simply making 3D TVs. It will complete what it calls a ‘‘3D ecosystem’’ by launching 3D Blu-ray players and a 3Dhome theatre system. It will also adopt 3D technology in LED, LCD and plasma sets. ‘‘Consumers will be able to record TV shows into 3D using our TVs,” said Baxter. ‘‘Our Bluray player will convert 2D into 3D.” Samsung’s 3D televisions will shortly be released into the Irish market, starting at prices of about €900.
Hot on Samsung’s heels is Toshiba, which is launching what it calls a 3D Cell TV. Toshiba claims that its Cell TV will make any content viewable in 3D, including ordinary DVDs, video games and normal TV streams. Panasonic is also launching a 3D television system, and also announced the launch of the world’s first professional HD 3D camcorder.
The biggest disappointment of the show this year was the non-release of a hotly-tipped Microsoft touch screen tablet device. Touted as a potential rival for Apple’s soon-to-be launched tablet laptop, the gadget was dangled in front of the crowd by Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer. However, it was not switched on, nor did Ballmer go any further than to say that the device might be launched in ‘‘late 2010’’.
Among the 2,700 exhibitors at the event were a number of Irish companies, including two Dublin-based firms, Amulet Devices and Dial2Do.
Amulet Devices produces remote control systems for Windows Media Centre computer systems, while Dial2Do makes landline and mobile phones perform tasks such as e-mail using voice commands. Another Irish firm, TNS Distribution, was present at the event to scout new products and gadgets for distribution among Irish electronics shops.
‘‘We got a huge amount out of this show last year,” said Eddy Carroll, chief technical officer of Amulet Devices.
‘‘We got a lot of very significant leads and made very good contacts with Microsoft. We also established an alliance with a Taiwanese remote control manufacturer and went home with 200 contacts, which we followed up on. Our relationship with Microsoft is now going very well.”
The 2010 CES convention comes against the backdrop of a battered world economy which has seen profit margins and revenue levels plummet among electronics manufacturers.
Television sales have been hit worst, with all but the latest LED and 50-inch sets being sold at a loss by manufacturers.
‘‘If you look at the top line figures, there is not a lot to be cheerful about,” said Scott Ramirez, head of television for Toshiba. ‘‘But there are bright spots. In the premium categories of LED and extra-large models, the industry has returned to profitability. This is the promise that we must act on now.”